Church Violating Guidelines Spreads Infectious Disease, Faces Up to 3-Month Suspension... Secret Operations Lead to Closure

Amendment to Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act Passed in National Assembly Plenary Session
Includes Grounds for Suspension and Closure Orders for Violation of Quarantine Guidelines
Expected to Be Implemented in January Next Year After Cabinet Meeting Approval Next Month

In mid-last month, congregants at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul are attending Sunday worship while maintaining social distance. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] In the future, if quarantine guidelines are not followed at places or facilities with a high risk of infectious disease transmission, operation suspension measures of up to three months can be imposed. If operation continues during the suspension period and is caught, closure measures can also be enforced.

According to the amendment to the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th, the heads of basic local governments are authorized to take such measures. Currently, administrative orders can restrict or prohibit gatherings, but this is the first time that operation suspension or closure measures have been made possible when infectious disease prevention measures are insufficient or the risk of transmission increases.

Even now, as part of infectious disease prevention, relevant ministries or local governments can issue orders requiring managers, operators, and users of places or facilities with transmission risks to comply with quarantine guidelines such as maintaining visitor logs or wearing masks. Violations can result in fines, but it takes considerable time due to the need for prosecution and trial.

Last month, police officers wearing protective suits were moving toward the entrance of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, to execute a search warrant.

The amendment passed on this day allows heads of basic local governments to suspend operations for up to three months if managers of places or facilities with a high risk of infectious disease transmission fail to comply with quarantine guidelines. Furthermore, if operation continues despite the suspension order, the place or facility must be mandatorily closed. This includes removing signs or nameplates and notifying the public of the closure.

For example, if a church secretly holds worship services despite a ban on in-person worship and an infectious disease spreads as a result, an operation suspension order can be issued. If the church continues to hold secret services despite the suspension, it must be closed without exception. This measure applies to other facilities or places as well. Specific administrative disposition criteria will be determined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare considering the type and severity of violations. Since the amendment has passed the plenary session, it will be promulgated after Cabinet approval early next month and take effect three months later, expected around January next year.

A family of a daycare teacher in Seoul has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). On the 23rd, children from the daycare underwent preliminary testing at the Dongjak-gu Public Health Center screening clinic in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Suspected Infectious Patients: Movement Restrictions and Location Tracking Using IT Technology
Increased Authority for Local Government Heads for Rapid Response... Establishment of Psychological Support Basis

New provisions have been established to restrict transportation means or use information and communication technology to verify whether isolation subjects among suspected patients of first-class infectious diseases such as COVID-19 have left their isolation locations. These measures were implemented during the domestic spread of COVID-19, and the related legal basis has now been clarified. Additionally, to enable rapid response during infectious disease crises, the amendment includes provisions for local government heads to appoint quarantine officers with overall management authority at quarantine sites and to request information from related agencies. These provisions will take effect immediately after promulgation.

Furthermore, the amendment passed includes establishing a basis for professional institutions to provide psychological support to infectious disease patients, their families, suspected patients, and medical personnel, as well as provisions to promptly delete information that no longer needs to be disclosed.